Friday, December 15, 2017

Residents decry planned Columbus Centre redevelopment

MPP Mike Colle hosted the meeting at the Beth Torah synagogue in North York.

About 200 people gathered at a public meeting on Wednesday to voice their concerns about a planned redevelopment of the Columbus Centre, which some say is integral to the city's Italian community.

"The Columbus Centre is more than bricks and mortar," MPP Mike Colle, who hosted the meeting, told CBC Toronto.

"It's an expression of the sacrifices made by the immigrants who came from Italy."

It was announced this summer that the owner of the North York community centre, Villa Charities, is joining with the Toronto Catholic District School Board in a $70-million redevelopment. The plan is to raze the existing structure and build new facilities, which would include a Catholic high school, Dante Alighieri Academy.

Located at Dufferin Street and Lawrence Avenue West, the Columbus Centre currently houses fitness amenities, banquet rooms and restaurants, long-term care facilities, an art gallery and extensive landscaped grounds, all created decades ago by the city's Italian community.

Residents gathered at the Beth Torah synagogue in North York decried the plan and pressed the facility's importance to the community. (more...)